Discussion on violence against women in agriculture begins at Punjabi varsity

Poster woman of the first ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest, Mohinder Kaur (82), grabs attention

Mohit Khanna

Patiala, Updated At : 07:05 AM Nov 29, 2024 IST

Mohinder Kaur (centre) during her visit to Punjabi University.

A two-day programme on structural violence against rural women in the agricultural sector commenced on Wednesday at the women’s studies centre and economics department of Punjabi University. This programme, organised in collaboration with Society for Promoting Participative Ecosystem Management (SOPECOM) and Mahila Kisan Adhikar Manch (MAKAM), saw the participation of several prominent women involved in the first farmers’ protest of 2020 who shared their experiences.

Farmer Mohinder Kaur (82) was in the news after Bollywood actor turned BJP MP from the Mandi constituency of Himachal Pradesh Kangna Ranaut had passed objectionable remarks against her during the farmers’ struggle. When the farmers were sitting at the borders of Delhi against the farm laws, Ranaut had posted a tweet (which was later deleted) wherein, using the picture of Mohinder as a “dadi of Shaheen Bagh of Delhi”, she had written that “such women” went to protests for Rs 100. Following this, Mohinder had filed a defamation suit against the actor.

Speaking on the occasion, Kaur said land had been gifted to them by Gurus and sages and women like her were the custodian of farmers’ rights.

Sukhwinder Kaur, a peasant leader from the BKU (Krantikari), said during the farmers’ movement, women not only broke barricades on the borders of Delhi but also had to break the barricades imposed on them by their homes and society.

Narrating her personal struggle, she said that there was an attempt to kill her at birth but she was saved by luck. This incident motivated her to work for women’s issues.

Harjeet Kaur, a farmer from Fatehgarh Sahib district, who drives a tractor and farms herself, said her father had introduced her to farming. However, due to some problems with her husband, she took over the farming and has been cultivating 35 acres of land. Another women farmer, Daljit Kaur, spoke about the issue of farmers’ debt.

Jagdeep Mehna, a teacher from Ranbir College, Sangrur, highlighted various aspects of the plight of Dalit women in Punjab. Speaking on the objectives of the programme, head of the economics department, Prof Anupama, said the programme would involve experts working on women in the agricultural sector.